23 November 2009 13:45
Nkatha Bay
Je’nine Smith, one of our very own readers, backpacks her way to Nkatha Bay in Malawi
editor@newzealandtimes.co.uk
One month into our journey and our excitement is growing. We’re eagerly planning our visits to the next locations, but at the same we’re time absorbing every inch of where we are at the moment.
We left Lilongwe Monday the 18th and boarded a bus towards Chinteche which was filled with good humoured Malawians who kept the vibe lively throughout the eight hour ride. Because we arrived past scheduled time, we spent the night at Mzoozoozoo Inn, which is situated in Mzuzu Town. Here we met up with fellow travellers and quickly found ourselves making friends and exchanging info.
Kande Beach, situated in Chinteche, is where we went from Mzuzu, catching a ride with the owner of Mzoozoozoo Inn, Gerard. Kande is a lovely campsite with beautiful beach huts and a bar, along with a dive centre, internet and 24-hour electricity. At 600 Kwacha per person per night, we were happy to camp out for a few days. They provide entertainment such as foosball, darts and satellite television, or if you’re up for relaxing, you can spend time on the beach tanning or taking walks along the waters.
The Malawi rain season has just started and we’ve had a few nights of heavy rainfall and thunder. These rains continue throughout summer and are welcomed on humid days.
Our last destination in Malawi, called Mayoka Village, is tucked within Nkatha Bay. It reminded us of our stay at View Rock resort in Thailand.
Their hospitality was the first aspect which grabbed our attention, when we were offered a free ride to Mayoka Village by one of their staff members, from Nkatha Bay Town, which otherwise would have turned out to be a steep walk while carrying backpacks.
The ride from Kande up to Mayoka took 40 minutes. We all fell in love with the Mayoka Village instantly, especially after seeing their beautiful campsite beneath brightly blossomed Flame trees.
They provide hot water, open air showers, a barbeque area, lounge and restaurant with free dinner on Tuesdays and a buffet special with seventeen various dishes on Friday nights. We had their “eat as much as you can” mild chicken curry with veggies, rice and poppadoms on Saturday.
Nkatha Bay town is perfect for everyday needs. There is an internet cafe at the neighbouring Butterfly lodge where all proceeds go towards improvements at the community centre.
Although there aren’t any ATMs available, you can use traveller’s cheques. The nearest banks are in Mzuzu, a one hour drive away.
On Fridays, soccer and netball matches are played which generates excitement throughout the community. They encourage you to pitch for practice times, and make yourself useful on the field.
We also note that the further we travel to the North, the greener and bushier the surroundings become with many tree and tea plantations, mountains and little rivers running through villages situated in between bigger towns.
We highly recommend that you stop off at Nkatha Bay, whether you’re travelling to or from Tanzania. From here you can also board the Ilala Ferry to Likoma or Chizumulu Islands on certain days of the week, and get connecting buses to travel up towards Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Malawi was magnificent; we met wonderful people and heard great stories, and it also taught us a few things. Three to four days in one location is enough to find your feet, meet and greet, locate the necessities and work in a lazy day of rest! Shopping and eating from the markets stretches your mullah, and the people love their food, so portions are big and you won’t ever go hungry.
Sadly we’re moving on, but fortunately with lovely memories of three weeks well spent and looking forward to many more to come! So see you in Tanzania!
Nkatha Bay Travel rates
Accommodation Rates: Mzoozoozoo 700 Kwacha per person for dorm sharing.
Kande Beach: 500 Kwacha per person for camping
Mayoka Village: 500 Kwacha per person for camping, 700 Kwacha per person for dorm sharing.
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